UGA football hopes ‘Red v. Black’ challenge helps spark G-Day turnout

During Georgia football coach Kirby Smart’s press conference on Saturday the question was raised about the hype behind G-Day. Mainly the question was more along the lines of ‘are you worried about the turn out?’

And to answer simply, Smart said the attendance number “isn’t that important”.

While Smart didn’t want to over exaggerate the importance of the number of people who attend G-Day, he did stress the importance of a good environment for recruits.

“When you talk to the kids we just signed and they will all tell you [93K Day] had a great effect,” Smart said.

Smart went on to say the fan base should feel challenged to come out on G-Day, hinting that there should be pride in having the largest showing in the conference.

While Georgia football has not necessarily marketed the 2017 scrimmage with the same fever as what is now dubbed 93k Day from the 2016 G-Day scrimmage, the team is hopeful for an added excitement from the promotion of the theme ‘Red v. Black’.

Ultimately, Smart wants the environment more than the number. And while 93,000 is the pentacle, a quality environment could still be had with 65,000. So, don’t get too caught up in the numbers, they don’t always show the entire picture.

After all, there’s no first-year head coach, there’s second-year Smart. There’s no Jacob Eason. Well, there is, but not freshman Eason, there’s seasoned-sophomore Eason. There’s no hype around a Nick Chubb sighting in the scrimmage because the senior isn’t rehabbing a knee injury, he’s healed.

For these reasons, there may not be a duplicate of 93k Day but Smart wants the environment, not the number.

“In recruiting it shows the passion and energy our fan base has so it is important,” Smart said. “I like for our kids to have a great environment to play in all the time.”

Everyone’s everywhere in DawgNation

Good luck to all those out there trying to keep up with Georgia athletics this coming weekend. It’s a doozy of a weekend.

From golf to G-Day, the athletic department will have its hands full with spring sports this weekend with a lot riding on this weekend’s event for many Georgia teams.

Let’s break it down.

Baseball – The Georgia pitching staff could potentially have a lot on its plate this weekend when Vanderbilt comes to town. On Tuesday, the Commodores’ offense showed up and showed out against Middle Tennessee. Vanderbilt beat the Blue Raiders 21-2.

Yep, you read it right. 21-2.

This is the largest margin of victory for the Commodores since a 2015 victory in the NCAA Nashville Regional championship game when Vanderbilt crushed Radford 21-0.

Softball – Georgia softball is still ranked, despite a 3-12 conference record and seven-game losing streak which the team broke up this past weekend with a second-game victory over Mississippi State.

WHO TO WATCH: Really, just the entire Texas A&M team.

The No. 22 Bulldogs head to Texas A&M this weekend for a series with the second best team in the conference. Texas A&M is currently 10-3 in conference play and doesn’t show any sign of slowing down, even with Georgia coming this weekend.

Track – Georgia track and field will continue its outdoor season at the Virginia Challenge in Charlottesville, Va.

WHO TO WATCH: Sprinters Cejhae Greene and Kendal Williams

Greene and Williams are running hot (no pun intended).

Last week at the Gamecock Invitational Greene won the 100-meter dash with the sixth-best time in the country in the 2017 season, while teammate Williams had the sixth-best finish in the 200-meter this year.

Cejhae Green speeds to #NCAA's 6th-best time in '17 & #UGA's 4th-best time in history with a legal 10.10 to win 100m at Gamecock Invite.

It’s SEC Tournament time for golf and tennis, which means meets galore for multiple Bulldogs teams in all different directions.

Conference tournaments for men’s and women’s golf and women’s tennis all begin on Friday and continue through the weekend.

The women’s tennis tournament head north to Nashville, Tennessee. Georgia enters the tournament as the No. 2 seed behind tournament host Vanderbilt with an 11-1 SEC record. The Bulldogs ended a 10 game win streak after falling in the final match of the regular season to Texas A&M last week.

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